Medical Laboratory Technology

Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) focuses on the analysis of human blood, body fluids and tissues, with students learning a variety of skills to become entry level professionals. This program includes general laboratory related courses with progression to discipline specific courses in Microbiology, Transfusion Science, Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, and Histotechnology while at NAIT.

Upon completion of courses at NAIT, students progress to affiliated clinical sites where they will train alongside registered medical laboratory technologists (MLT’s) and have the ability to apply the knowledge and skills learned at NAIT.  Students will also continue to develop their organizational, critical thinking, communication and professionalism skills. Clinical training (Work integrated learning – WIL) takes place at multiple locations and students should plan to be able to travel to sites within about a one-hour radius of their assigned clinical (WIL) site. Shifts during clinical will include days, evenings and weekends.

Classroom and study hours

Students can expect to spend on average:

• Phase 1: 49 weeks at NAIT Main Campus with 30-35 hours per week of blended (virtual and in-person) classes and labs.  Additionally, students can expect to spend 20-25 hours per week studying and completing assignments.

• Phase 2: 38 weeks of clinical placement (approx. 40 hours per week including early shifts, late shifts, and weekend shifts). Completion of IPHE1201 in the first 15 weeks of training is also required.
• As part of the NAIT MLT Program, all students are required to complete a clinical training (WIL) component at affiliated laboratories in Alberta. The MLT program will attempt to place students in their first-choice clinical site, however, this may not be feasible. Students will be provided with their clinical training site prior to the start of the program and sites are not changed.

Program goals

• Teaching students how to provide quality patient care by being introduced to:
  • How to work safely in a level II containment laboratory
  • How to collect and process specimens for analysis
  • How to analyze, interpret & report quality laboratory results
  • How to think critically and how to communicate and collaborate inter-professionally
• Teaching students the professional responsibility of a registered MLT, including scope of practice, ethics, accountability, and professional development.
• Preparing students for clinical training by providing theoretical knowledge and hands-on experiences
• Preparing students for the CSMLS national certification exam

Program phases

The MLT program is divided into two phases where students will learn and practice the skills required to be a registered MLT 

• Phase I of the Medical Laboratory Technology program begins every September and consists of 49 weeks of classroom instruction with related practical laboratory sessions on NAIT Main Campus. This includes (two) 15-week semesters, (one) 4-week intersession, followed by one additional 15-week semester.
• Phase II consists of 38 weeks of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) at one of three affiliated training sites in Edmonton, Grande Prairie or Red Deer. WIL provides practical experience in a variety of clinical settings. Emphasis is placed on practical application of concepts studied at NAIT and on development of organizational, critical thinking, and professionalism skills.

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

• Student application support
• Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
• Program admissions process
• Enrolment support
• Student funding options
• Fee and refund inquiries
• General program and course withdrawal procedures
• Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre